Spring hinge structure



March 11, 1969 G. ox oRb 3,432,193

SPRING HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 14, 1967' INVENTOR.

BY James 6. dz ora United States Patent 3,432,193 SPRING HINGE STRUCTURE James G. Oxford, 321 Locust, Elgin, Ill. 60120 Filed Aug. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 660,345 US. Cl. 287100 C aims 1 Int. Cl. Fl6c 11/00; B25g 3/38; F1611 27/00; F16m 13/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spring controlled hinge structure for complemental parts such as the support standard for a chair or the like. The structure including a semi-circular body carried at one end of a first standard being pivotally mounted in the hollow of a circular body carried at the end of a second standard with pairs of spring means received in channels in the two bodies biasing the standards into coaxial alignment.

in a novel manner to the relatively structure also embodies anti-friction to permit the chair to swivel about the movable parts. The means and means base standard.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a structure of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide spring controlled hinge structure of novel construction.

Another object is to provide a novel hinge assembly comprised of a planular socket member and a semi-circular body seated in said member.

Another object is to provide a structure of the character referred to which is not expensive or diflicult to manufacture or assemble, and one that is very efficient in use.

The structure, by means of which the above noted and other objects and will be described tially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the hinge elements; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a modified structure.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the invention as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 5, the novel hinge structure 11 is illustrated as being incorporated into a chair assembly that includes a base 12 and a seat 13. The hinge structure is comprised of two main components, one of which comprises a circular body 14 supported firmly on the upper end of a standard 15 integral with base 12. The body 14 is hollowed out so as to provide spaced circular side walls 16 and a connecting perimeter wall 17 joining the perimeters of the walls 16 along their lower halves only. The space between the walls 16 is adapted to receive, for free rotation therein, in a vertical plane, a semi-circular body 18 that has an integral stem 19 projecting upwardly from its flat top surface 20. This stem may be firmly connected directly to the seat 13, but preferably has a swivel point 21 therein to permit rotation of the seat relative to base 12.

Free tilting of the upper chair assembly about the hinge structure 11 is restrained by two pairs of tensioned coil springs 22 arranged one on each side of the body 18. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the springs of each pair are anchored at one end to a pin 23 carried by the side walls 16 and their other ends are secured to respective pins 24 carried by the body 18. The springs act together to maintain the standard or stem 19 normally in a vertical plane. When the chair is tilted, one or the other of the springs in each pair is tensioned. Preferably both the body 18 and side walls 16 are formed with mating arcuate channels 25, 26 to accommodate the springs 22.

In order to minimize friction between body 18 and side walls 16 there is provided, preferably in the side Walls 16, a series of ball bearings 27. These ball bearings are peened in recesses in the wall surfaces as shown. As an alternate structure the opposed faces of walls 16 and body 18 may be recessed as shown in FIG. 6 to receive the ball bearings 27a.

Although I have described the invention, in considerable that the description thereof is rather than restrictive,

a preferred embodiment of detail, it will be understood intended scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure comprising, in combination, a hollow body being circular in longitudinal cross-section and being open on its perimeter along substantially one-half ofthe circumference thereof, a standard supporting said hollow circular body, a body being semi-circular in longitudinal cross-section and being nested in the hollow of said circular body, a standard on the semi-circular body extending in a direction away from the first named standard, spring means operably connecting said bodies to restrain relative rotation of said bodies, said spring means comprising two pairs of coil springs, the springs of each pair connected at one end to the hollow circular body at a location diametrically opposed to the standard supporting said hollow circular body and at their other ends to the semi-circular body, and a pair of matching channels arranged in a circular springs being located between each of a pair of sides on said semi-circular circular body.

2. The hinge structure recited in claim 1, in which anti-friction means is arranged between the bodies.

3. Tht hinge structure recited in claim 2, in which the anti-friction means comprises ball bearings circumferentially arranged in and carried by the hollow circular body.

3 4 4. The hinge structure recited in claim 2, in which the 1,036,164 8/1912 Teppert 287-100 anti-friction means comprises ball bearings nested in op- 1,890,696 12/1932 Rosenhahn 248160 posed faces of both bodies. 2,382,679 8/ 1945 Tolirnan 2871OO 5. The hinge structure recited in claim 1, in which one 3,199,826 8/ 1965 Miller et a1. 248417 of said standards is rotatable relative to its body. 5 CARL W TOMLIN P E rzmary xamlner.

References Cited R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner. 827 950 ra 556 Z' PATENTS 287 101 10 248160, 383,417; 2s7-101 903,242 11/1908 Thayer 248-160 

